The Åland Islands occupy a position of great strategic importance, commanding as they do both one of the entrances to the port of Stockholm and the approaches to the Gulf of Bothnia, in addition to being situated proximate to the Gulf of Finland. National motto: ? Official language Swedish Capital Mariehamn Governor Peter Lindbäck Premier Roger Nordlund Total Area  - Land  - Water 6,784 km² 1,527 km² 5,258 km² Population  - Total (2002)  - Density 26,257 17. ... Note: This page contains IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode. ... Categories: Finland geography stubs | Sweden geography stubs | Seas | Baltic Sea ... The Baltic Sea The Gulf of Finland is an arm of the Baltic Sea that extends between Finland (to the north) and Estonia (to the south) all the way to the city of Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. ...

During the period 1300 to 1600 Kastelholm Castle was a focal point for a number of battles and raids.

Between 1714 and 1721 Åland was attacked and devastated by Peter the Great's forces; most of the population fled at that time to Sweden. Events August 1 - George, elector of Hanover becomes King George I of Great Britain. ... Events Pope Innocent XIII becomes pope Johann Sebastian Bach composes the Brandenburg Concertos April 4 - Robert Walpole becomes the first prime minister of Britain September 10 - Treaty of Nystad is signed, bringing an end to the Great Northern War November 2 - Peter I is proclaimed Emperor of All the Russias... Peter I Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia Peter I (Pyotr Alekseyvich) (9 June 1672–8 February 1725 [30 May 1672–28 January 1725 O.S.1]) ruled Russia from 7 May (27 April O.S.) 1682 until his death. ...

The Åland Islands belonged to the provinces Sweden ceded Russia, which became the semi-autonomous Grand duchy of Finland. When, by the treaty of Fredrikshamn in September 1809, the islands were ceded to Russia, the Swedes were unable to secure a provision that the islands should not be fortified. The question was, however, a vital one not only for Sweden but for Britain, whose trade in the Baltic was threatened. Autonomy is the condition of something that does not depend on anything else. ... A grand duchy is a form of principality which has a Grand Duke or a Grand Duchess as head of state. ... The Treaty of Fredrikshamn (Freden i Fredrikshamn in Swedish and Haminan rauha in Finnish ) was a peace treaty concluded between Sweden and Russia on September 17, 1809. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1854, accordingly, during the Crimean War, an Anglo-French force attacked and destroyed the fortress of Bomarsund, against the erection of which Palmerston had protested without effect some twenty years previously. By the "Åland Convention," concluded between Britain, France and Russia on March 30, 1856, it was stipulated that "the Aland Islands shall not be fortified, and that no military or naval establishments shall be maintained or created on them." By the 33rd article of the Treaty of Paris (1856) this convention, annexed to the final act, was given "the same force and validity as if it formed part thereof," Palmerston declaring in the House of Commons (May 6) that it had "placed a barrier between Russia and the north of Europe." 1854 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Crimean War lasted from 28 March 1854 to 1856. ... Bomarsund is a 19th-century fortress in the Åland Islands in the Baltic Sea. ... Palmerston is the name of several places, and also of several notable people. ... March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in Leap years). ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Treaty of Paris of 1856 settled the Crimean War between Russia and Ottoman Empire and its allies France and Britain. ...

Some attention was attracted to this arrangement when in 1906 it was asserted that Russia, under pretext of stopping the smuggling of arms into Finland, was massing considerable naval and military forces at the islands. The question of the Åland Islands created some discussion in 1907 and 1908 in connection with the new North Sea agreements, and undoubtedly Russia considered the convention of 1856 as rather humiliating. But it was plainly shown by other powers that they did not propose to regard it as modified or open to question, and the point was not definitely and officially raised. The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ...